Comments on: Still-in-the-Red Friday? http://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 22 May 2012 03:53:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: jfnhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html#comment-32804 jfn Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:59:57 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html#comment-32804 Economic picture for the holiday season is a mixed bag of worms here in central PA. Having been in retail for a good many years prior to my becoming a full time pastor of a country church, I can tell you that so much is riding on this one time of the year, that a slow sales season at Christmas can spell very hard times for all of us. Regardless of what has been published, seldom have retailers "hit" their goals during the past decade. While they have had profitable seasons, the signs of this slow down have been standing along the way, like a Burma Shave campaign. Dan, I understand what you are asking with regard to the church's readiness, and sadly I think we are far from it. To the point that even having the basic understanding of what it will take to deal with the types of crises we are heading for, is beyond the realm of common thought. Our churches have, for the better part of seventy years, been willing to rely on someone else to take on the burdens of the world, and care for those in peril, while we engaged in token acts of kindness, and churching. We have become near experts at churching, and now that the tide is coming in, we are ill prepared for the rising water. We have long since sold our rescue boats and equipment, even our hip-waders, and as the water is rising around us, and those in greatest peril drift by —- well, we are somehow preoccupied, and entranced in battles which do little more than trivialize Christ, and empower the darkness. The church of today, needs to repent, and look at the world through the eyes of Christ -- it is the only way we can regain our role as rescuing servants to which we were called. Let's pray this happens before many more are lost. Great post Dan!!! Economic picture for the holiday season is a mixed bag of worms here in central PA. Having been in retail for a good many years prior to my becoming a full time pastor of a country church, I can tell you that so much is riding on this one time of the year, that a slow sales season at Christmas can spell very hard times for all of us. Regardless of what has been published, seldom have retailers “hit” their goals during the past decade. While they have had profitable seasons, the signs of this slow down have been standing along the way, like a Burma Shave campaign.

Dan, I understand what you are asking with regard to the church’s readiness, and sadly I think we are far from it. To the point that even having the basic understanding of what it will take to deal with the types of crises we are heading for, is beyond the realm of common thought.
Our churches have, for the better part of seventy years, been willing to rely on someone else to take on the burdens of the world, and care for those in peril, while we engaged in token acts of kindness, and churching. We have become near experts at churching, and now that the tide is coming in, we are ill prepared for the rising water. We have long since sold our rescue boats and equipment, even our hip-waders, and as the water is rising around us, and those in greatest peril drift by —- well, we are somehow preoccupied, and entranced in battles which do little more than trivialize Christ, and empower the darkness.
The church of today, needs to repent, and look at the world through the eyes of Christ — it is the only way we can regain our role as rescuing servants to which we were called.
Let’s pray this happens before many more are lost.
Great post Dan!!!

]]> By: Still-in-the-Red Friday? - Further Thoughts | Cerulean Sanctumhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html#comment-32762 Still-in-the-Red Friday? - Further Thoughts | Cerulean Sanctum Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:02:34 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html#comment-32762 [...] season would disappoint retailers and further depress our struggling economy. I wrote “Still-in-the-Red Friday?” and closed my post by asking if the Church is ready for the economic issues coming our [...] [...] season would disappoint retailers and further depress our struggling economy. I wrote “Still-in-the-Red Friday?” and closed my post by asking if the Church is ready for the economic issues coming our [...]

]]> By: barry b.http://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html#comment-32760 barry b. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:44:01 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/11/still-in-the-red-friday.html#comment-32760 retail store news is always negative this time of year. I've been doing a lot more shopping on the internet. retail store news is always negative this time of year. I’ve been doing a lot more shopping on the internet.

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